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O'Connell stars as 14-year-old Andrew Clements, who while looking one day for his friend, Dr. Benjamin Jeffcoate (McGrath), trips and is hit by a photon beam, causing him to develop superpowers. He uses these abilities to fight crime, to solve personal problems, and to help others. He hides his powers from his mother, sister, and friends with the exception of Jeffcoate. Andrew initially called himself Ultraman, but this was later dropped.

Initially, Clements' powers include superhuman speed, invulnerability, and levitation. Clements gains super-strength after being hit by the photon beam a second time.

In the first season, Andrew must carry around aerosol spray containers and use them to move through the air, as his 'flying' ability is limited; he can make himself nearly weightless, and move up without any problems, but he cannot propel himself through the air or move down without some external force. However, he can jump quite high, and do impossible flips. In the second season, without explanation, Andrew gains the ability to move through the air without the use of aerosol cans. Later in that season, after being struck by the photon beam a second time, Andrew develops superhuman strength but loses his invulnerability.

For the entirety of the series, Andrew loses his powers when exposed to radiation (e.g. electromagnetic waves and x-rays). Starting in episode 10, he loses his powers for 2–3 days after exposure to an x-ray at the dentist. Later in the series, he regains them immediately after the exposure stops.